Weiner seeks treatment after sexting scandal

Embattled US representative Anthony Weiner has sought treatment for a string of embarrassing incidents, US media reported, as his colleagues stepped up pressure for him to resign.

The 46-year-old Democrat has found himself facing withering criticism after he admitted sending a close-up photo of his underwear with the outlines of his erect penis clearly visible underneath.

The photo was sent to a woman in Seattle via his Twitter account, and Mr Weiner spent a week before his confession claiming that the photo had been hacked.

Mr Weiner eventually admitted to sending naughty pictures online and sexting with about six women over the years.

But he said he had not met any of the women and had not had a physical relationship outside his year-old marriage to Huma Abedin, an aide to secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

"Congressman Weiner departed this morning to seek professional treatment to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person," his spokeswoman Risa Heller was quoted as saying in news media.

She added that Mr Weiner would request a short leave of absence from the House of Representatives "so that he can get evaluated and map out a course of treatment to make himself well."

Mr Weiner, a seven-term congressman who until now was seen as a leading candidate to take over as New York mayor in 2013, defied a call from his party leader to resign his seat in the US House of Representatives.

He announced his decisions shortly after House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi urged him to go for help, but also to resign from Congress.

Mr Weiner's determination to remain has angered Democrats, who say his inappropriate online exchanges with women have hurt the party just as it looks ahead toward next year's elections.

Earlier Saturday, Ms Pelosi and other House Democrats publicly called on Mr Weiner to step down.

"Congressman Weiner has the love of his family, the confidence of his constituents, and the recognition that he needs help," Ms Pelosi said in a statement.

"I urge Congressman Weiner to seek that help without the pressures of being a Member of Congress."

Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz called his behaviour "indefensible" and the head of the Democrats' campaign fundraising in the House, Representative Steven Israel said it had become "an insurmountable distraction to the House."

Mr Weiner, in the statement by his spokeswoman, said he "takes the views of his colleagues very seriously."

But the comments by senior House Democrats marked the most significant condemnation of Mr Weiner's behaviour so far.